Monday, December 16, 2024

Ice Baby Ice!

Our driveway ... even with the new gravel from last year was pure ice Saturday morning!




YakTraks were in order!


So for most of Saturday night and most of the Sunday we were encased in ice and fog with dense fog predicted through Monday forenoon.

I went to get Saturday's mail and was struck by how cool the forest looked.


The tree below is one I followed last year. It is a Hop Hornbeam tree that generally keeps some of its leaves through the winter. This year wicked winds stripped them.



The fog was thick and the road was iced.



It was a fine day to stay off the roads.

I did venture down into our creek bottom and enjoyed some bird watching through the dim light. I walked on the ice as it was easier than walking on the rocks.


Some think cold, damp, and foggy days are awful. I think of it as having Mother Nature is a soft light box.

It is dismal looking in a way. But sometimes one can find beautiful things. 
I am very lucky to be surrounded by an interesting landscape.


The temperatures warmed up quite a bit during the day and some of the ice melted down almost enough for me to be able to drive up the hill if I needed to.


That said, even though it was a pain to so many people. I liked our fog and ice.






13 comments:

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I think that your Hop-Horn Bean should be a Hop Hornbeam.

Anvilcloud said...

That looks like quite a weather event, but nothing stops you. Winter walking isn't all that easy. Even just walking around the block, we hit patches of ice on the sidewalks.

Val Ewing said...

Hah! It should!

Val Ewing said...

I wear YakTraks in icy situations. While hauling water buckets to my animals in the past ... falling down and spilling water was not fun. I end up putting ice cleats on one pair of boots and that solves the ice issue.
However, on sidewalks it is a huge issue because you may be walking on a perfectly clean sidewalk and then encounter ice you cannot see. I get that.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Ice is the absolute worst thing about winter, in my opinion. So treacherous to walk on!

Val Ewing said...

Very true. It can be the worst ever especially if you don't see it.

Sandra said...

Ice is awful for hooved animals. You are surrounded by rugged beauty. That is a very long driveway, it looks like a road! We are having the same weather as you are.

Far Side of Fifty said...

We got more rain yesterday that froze of course. I have yak trax too, I put them on an old pair of snow boots and leave them on:) Your foggy photos are soft and cool looking:)

Val Ewing said...

The mules found a good spot to shelter in and I dragged their feed out to them in the woods. They were very careful.
People have mistaken our driveway as a one lane road.

Val Ewing said...

I admit that I edited them for that look.
It was beautiful though. Still foggy today, but not bad.

Guillaume said...

Great pictures.

Jenn Jilks said...

I must admit that I have boots with picks you can flip out for traction on such days. I failed to do that this morning putting out the garbage at the end of our 100m driveway. I am so dumb!!!

Anonymous said...

LD....That is a wonderful ice waterfall.